Cardiff RFC returned to the top of Super Rygbi Cymru, cruising to a 31-0 win over Bridgend Ravens at a sodden Cardiff Arms Park.
The Blue and Blacks returned to the Welsh capital aiming to bounce back from their first defeat of the season, a 26-3 loss to Swansea RFC last Thursday at St Helen’s, in an uncharacteristic performance in miserable conditions.
The same conditions greeted Cardiff again as they looked to strengthen their impressive home record and return to winning ways against the Ravens.
Head coach Dan Fish made several changes to his side that faced the Whites, with tight-head Joe Cowell starting for the first time this season, replacing Tom Harper.
Cowell joined Ioan Emanuel, who was making his sixth consecutive start, and returning hooker Tom Howe in the front-row. Howe made his Cardiff debut in this fixture last year.
Captain Craig Hudd continued in the second-row and partnered Tom Cottle. In the back-row, Ben Fry retained his place at number eight. However, two further changes occurred in the back-row.
At blind-side, Evan Rees made his first appearance since May, while Lucas de la Rua appeared for the first time since the Blue and Blacks’ impressive 59-14 away victory over Ebbw Vale RFC.
Sion Davies, who has scored twice this season, partnered returning Lloyd Lucas as the half-backs. Osian Darwin-Lewis returned to the number 13 jersey for the first time since facing the Steelmen, joining Jason Harries in midfield.
In the back-three, Rhys Cummings remained at full-back, while Joe Goodchild moved from outside-centre to his preferred wing role, joining Dewi Cross.
On the bench, Ethan Coombes was named among the replacements after making his first competitive start against Swansea. Alfie Prygodzicz was also selected after an impressive start to his senior career.
Elsewhere, Harry Fry, Louis Fletcher, Sean Moore, Nathan Hudd, Ethan Lloyd and Ben Coomer completed the side which faced the Ravens.
Speaking after the encounter, head coach Fish said: “It was a great win with the weather conditions not great.
“It was similar to what we played in against Swansea last week, and I thought the learnings that we took from that game and put into practice today was excellent.
“To come away with a 31-0 win is great. I think the boys controlled that first-half into the wind very well.
“Then we were very clinical in attack when we had opportunities to put points on the board.”
Story of the Game:
With Storm Boelo hitting the Welsh capital with fury, Cardiff Arms Park hosted a miserable afternoon, with driving rain and blustering winds threatening to make conditions as challenging as the contest itself.
Outside-half Ben Burnell got proceedings underway as new Welsh Rugby Union chairman Lyndon Faulkner watched on, alongside a healthy crowd that braved the torrid conditions.
It only took a matter of minutes for the Blue and Blacks to get on the front-foot. The visitors were penalised around the breakdown area for not rolling away; outside-half Lucas kicked upfield as the hosts found themselves inside the Ravens’ 22.
However, the hosts were then penalised. Soon after, Cardiff scored their first try of the afternoon. Number eight Fry’s strong carry put the visitors on the back-foot.
Lucas then smartly kicked in behind as the Ravens came under considerable pressure, forcing a poor clearance kick from the visitors.
From the resulting catch-and-drive, hooker Howe broke away and scored his fourth of the season. Lucas couldn’t add the extras, as the Blue and Blacks led 5-0 after seven minutes.
Cardiff, while attacking, lost possession, but winger Cross and full-back Cummings chased back well, and the hosts relieved pressure.
At the end of the first quarter, the Blue and Blacks doubled their lead. This came after a kick in behind by scrum-half Davies; the visitors couldn’t gather, and captain Hudd scored his first try of the season.
Next, loose-head Emanuel brilliantly kicked upfield, which resulted in a 50-22. However, referee Carwyn Sion brought play back for an earlier infringement, and Lucas put the Blue and Blacks into the visitors’ 22.
After some great build-up play, Darwin-Lewis couldn’t score his first try of the season after losing possession agonisingly close to the Ravens’ line.
Before half-time, Cardiff scored their third. After Alfie Thomas hit Lucas late, Howe crossed from the resulting penalty kick into the corner to claim his brace.
Outside-half Lucas added the extras, putting Cardiff into a commanding 17-point lead at the break.
HT: Cardiff 17-0 Bridgend Ravens
With the wind from the River Taff end of the Cardiff Arms Park behind them, Lucas got the game back underway. Then, after a kick into the Ravens’ 22 by the outside-half, second-row Cottle expertly charged down a clearance kick.
The visitors were then penalised after a scrum; however, the Blue and Blacks couldn’t capitalise, and the try-less third quarter advanced as they lost possession.
Cardiff continued to handle the poor conditions smartly, keeping hold of a catch-and-drive from inside their own half that progressed comfortably into the Ravens’.
The Blue and Blacks then regathered possession around the breakdown, after great work from both Nathan and Craig Hudd.
After yet another dominant catch-and-drive by the hosts close to Bridgend’s whitewash, Howe brilliantly claimed his hat-trick halfway through the fourth quarter.
Lucas continued to add to the scoreboard, adding the extras to put the Blue and Blacks up by 24. Minutes later, Bridgend were reduced to 14 men as replacement James Richard’s was sent off for ten minutes.
In the closing exchanges, Cardiff capped off a brilliant afternoon with a fifth score. Replacement Coombes, who scored on his debut against Brixham RFC in pre-season, cleverly scored his first SRC try.
With the clock in the red, Lucas calmly slotted the extras, extending the Blue and Blacks’ impressive home record.
FT: Cardiff 31-0 Bridgend Ravens
Up next for the Blue and Blacks, they welcome Ebbw Vale RFC to the Cardiff Arms Park next Saturday (KO: 14:30).
